Serhat Akın

Serhat Akın

Akın in action for Anderlecht.
Personal information
Full name	Niyazi Serhat Akın
Date of birth	5 June 1981
Place of birth	Bretten, West Germany
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Winger / Striker
Youth career
1986–1991	FC Viktoria Jöhlingen
1991–2000	Karlsruher SC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2000–2005	Fenerbahçe	125	(41)
2005–2008	Anderlecht	49[1]	(13)
2006–2007	→ 1. FC Köln (loan)[2]	7	(1)
2008–2009	Kocaelispor	11	(0)
2009	Konyaspor	11	(1)
2009–2011	Karlsruher SC	18	(0)
2011–2012	Turgutluspor	25	(15)
2012	Altay	5	(0)
2013	TSV Grunbach	0	(0)
2013–2014	Berliner AK 07	7	(2)
National team
2000–2002	Turkey U21	22	(12)
2002–2005	Turkey	16	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Niyazi Serhat Akın (born 5 June 1981) is a retired Turkish footballer who played as a striker.

Career

Fenerbahçe

He played for Fenerbahçe SK between 2000–2005 and played 179 matches (125 for the Süper Lig), after which he went to Anderlecht on a free transfer in the summer of 2005.

RSC Anderlecht and 1. FC Köln (2005–2008)

In 2005, Akin joined the Belgian R.S.C. Anderlecht. He continued his winning ways by winning the 2005–06 Jupiler League. He wore the number 24 jersey for the Mauves, with the number 9 jersey worn by the more senior Mbo Mpenza. In his first year at Anderlecht, he helped them become champions of the Belgian First Division, by scoring the first goal in their 2–0 victory over direct rivals Standard Liège three matchdays from the end of the season.

However, in the winter transfer window or 2006–07, he was loaned out to Second Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln due to the lack of opportunities and having lower seniority than Nicolas Frutos, Mohammed Tchite and Mbo Mpenza. He received further setback in the 2006–07 season when he had stomach injuries which kept him sidelined for half a year. However, with the transfer of Tchite, and the injury to Frutos in the early part of the 2007–08 Jupiler League, Akin has returned to the starting eleven of Anderlecht. He has repaid the faith of his manager, Franky Vercauteren and scoring two vital goals in the UEFA Cup tie against Rapid Vienna, sending the Belgian team into the group stage of the second-tier European competition. Akin calls it a "small miracle", that he is part of the Anderlecht team again.^[3] This brief period of goals was interrupted by another injury to the striker, causing him to miss out an opportunity to cement his spot in the Anderlecht team.

Kocaelispor

Akın signed a one-year contract for the 2008–09 season with the recently promoted Turkish Super League side Kocaelispor. However, after six months with Kocaelispor, he left the team as Kocaelispor could not pay his wages.^[4]

Karlsruhe

In November 2009, he signed a contract with Karlsruher Sport Club until 30 June 2010.^[5]

Turgutluspor

Akın returned to Turkey after accepting an offer from his old team mate Yusuf Simsek who was appointed as the player-manager for the TFF Second League team. According to his manager, Akın has grown into a more humble player as his fame deteriorated.^[6]

International career

He played 16 times for Turkey and scored three goals. He also played 22 times for Turkey Under 21 and scored 12 goals.

Honours

Fenerbahçe S.K.

• Süper Lig: 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05

R.S.C. Anderlecht

• Belgian Pro League: 2005–06

References

1. "Akın, Niyazi Serhat". National Football Teams. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
2. "Serhat Akin" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
3. "Serhat: "It's a small miracle"". anderlecht-online.be. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
4. "Serhat Akın, Kocaelispor'dan ayrıldı" (in Turkish). samanyoluhaber.com. 20 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
5. "KSC holt Serhat Akin" (in German). ksc.de. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
6. "Futbolcu Yusuf, hocasi Simsek'i cok begeniyor" (in Turkish). zaman.com.tr. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.